Clothes-pounder.



G. W FERDON.

CLOTHES POUNDER.

APPLICATION FILED 067,16, 1911.

1,267,649. Patented May28, 1918.

GUY W. FERDON, 0F CRESSKILL, NEW JERSEY.

CLOTHES-POUNDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

Application filed October 16, 1917. Serial No. 196,865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY W. FERooN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oresskill, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Olothes-Pounders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

y invention relates to washers, particularly to washing devices of the clothes pounder type in which, by the reciprocation or pounding motion of a suitable device, water and a detergent and air are forced through the interstices of soiled fabrics in a tub or other receptacle. My invention relates to certain novelties of structure in such devices, and I have produced a compact collapsible device easily taken apart and stored or carried for use during traveling or under other conditions where space is restricted. I make the handle tubular and sectional with one or more joints. I make the washer of truncated cone-shape. I provide means whereby air may be forced from the plunger through the water on the downward stroke.-

There are other improvements.

In the drawings,-

Figure l is a perspective exterior view;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of the end of my inner tube.

In the drawings the numeral 1 represents the body of my washer made in the form of a frustum here, of a cone through the top 2 of which is passed the handle 3, tubular in cross section and in two parts connected by any suitable joint, as the screw joint at 4:. The upper part 5 is also hollow, with a closed end 6 provided with an opening 7 of a size adapted to be covered by the ball of a thumb. A loop 8 for hanging the device up is provided. The part 3 is also provided with an opening adapted to be closed in the same way as the opening 7 in case it is desired not to use the second or extension part 5 of the handle.

The tubular handle passes through the top 2 down toward the bottom of the main part 1 and is supported and stayed at its lower end by the tubes or rods 10 extending across the washer and through the tubular handle. These supports as here shown are two in number and cross each other within the handle at right angles at 11. At the lower end of the tubular handle I place a pair of rods or tubes 12, also two in number, crossing or intersecting at right angles. Obviously the number and direction of both of these may be changed. These parts 10 and 12 thus form a cage, and in this cage I have a disk or short cylinder 13 constituting a valve nearly as large as the tube. The two sets of rods are far enough apart to aii'ord considerable play to the disk or short cylinder 13, and guided by the passage of water or air this valve will find itself at the lower or upper part of the cage to choke the passage. It is made of such a diameter or shape that it will not close the passage entirely, but should be large enough to slow down the passing fluid. At some point or zone of the truncated cone shaped body, I provide one or more openings 14:, and I may put around each of these holes a whistle 15, which will give a whistling sound on the passage of air therethrough but will be silent when water passes and thus will serve to indicate depth of water in the washing receptacle and extent of submergence of the washer. The frustum shape gives strength to the structure and needed space in the upper part of the washer.

In operation if the tub stands on the floor the complete handle is preferably used and the washer reciprocated with an up and down motion. Each time it is pushed downward the operator should close the hole 7 with the ball of her thumb, at least when the level of openings 14; is reached in submergence. This will cause entrapped air to pass through the clothes in the Water, fully removing the dirt. On the upstroke the thumb may be removed if desired. When a wash basin or pail is used standing on a table, the part 5 is not necessary. Otherwise the action is the same. The valve 13 on the 'up-dra-w tends to move toward the bottom of its cage and to direct any air entering the tube out through the water. On the down-thrust it rests against the upper member of its cage and air and water are made to enter the side openings. The valve is purposely a loose one so that this action is only in part, the lower part of the handle also serving to disturb the water and clothes. The effect is a gushing of jets through the side holes of the cup. By making my washer of the shape shown I secure the presence within it of a large body of water while the sloping walls hel to prevent the lodging of clothes or small articles,

like ladies handherchiets, Within the town tain.

The wires 10 below the holes i l serve to keep the clothes from massing in the Washer body. The wires 12 also serve to keep the clothes, particularly small articles, out oi the tubular handle.

My device may he and contoin'.

ll ring thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a clothes pounder in combination an open mouthed Washer body, a tubular handle entering the top of the Washer body and extending below said top, stays secured to the inside oi said Washer body and crossing in and secured to said tubular handle, a pair of rods crossing in the lower part of the handle and secured thereto, the tWo pairs of crossing rods forming with the handle a cage and a valve Within said cage adapted to more up and down therein.

2. In a clothes pounding device, in cornloination, a hollow open mouthed Washer of any suitable shape insects terminating within the body, the upper end adapted to be closed by a thuinb, a Valve in the lower end for controlling passage of air, and an opening in said Washer body near the upper end thereof through Which jets of "Water may he made to squirt, at Will by control of the opening in the upper end of the handle as the deviceris reciprocated in use.

through the handle for A In testimony. whereof, l afiix my signature.

GUY W. .FERBON.

1 ts each, Gommissioner 0r Eatents, Washington, l3, 

